Knockdown metal chair



C. P. MOLLA KNOCKDOWN METAL CHAI R March 9, 1948.

Filed Feb. 18, 1946' INVENTOR Patented Mar. 9. 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,437,303 KNOCKDOWN METAL CHAIR Charles P. Molla, New Hyde Park, N. Y.

Annlication February 18, 1946, Serial No. 648,396

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the construction of metal chairs, settees and the like. More particu larly, the invention deals with the construction of metal furniture of this kind, wherein the chair or settee comprises a back rest and rear leg frame, a seat frame, front legs and arm rest portions, all detachably coupled to facilitate compact packaging of the knockdown chair or settee in a relatively thin package of length and width defined primarily by the size of the back rest frame employed. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a chair made accord ing to my invention in assembled relationship.

Fig. 2 i a side view of the chair, as seen in Fig.

l, and illustrating in dot and dash lines the ar rangement of back rest and seat cushions thereon.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the method of assembling the seat and back rest frame with the arm rest shown in exploded position, preparatory to attaching the arm rest, only one corner portion of the parts being shown.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a corner portion of the seat frame preparatory to attaching a front leg member therewith.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a rear corner portion of the seat frame and adjacent part of the back rest frame, preparatory to as semblage of the frames; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view diagrammatically illustrating the packaging of the complete knockdown chair construction.

In the construction of metal furniture, it has been the common practice to employ a more or less one-piece frame construction of the back rest, seat and leg members, as Well as the arm rest portions. This method of constructing metal chairs suitable for outdoor and porch use materially complicates storage, shipment and other handling thereof by reason of the space occupied by the complete assembled chair. This method of procedure minimizes the number of chairs that can be stored or packed in a means for transportation such as a freight car, truck and the like. Further, chairs constructed and handled in this manner are more susceptible to breakage and damage by reason of the bulk thereof.

It is the purpose of my invention to so construct and proportion detachable parts of a chair so as to facilitate packaging of the same in a rel atively thin carton or other package, the length and width of which is governed by the size of the largest frame part of the chair. In the present specification, reference will generally be made to chairs in describing one adaptation and use of my invention. It will be apparent, however, that the mary difference being in the length of the back rest and seat frames and in the number of leg members employed.

' In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown at H) a back rest and leg frame formed from a substantially heavy rod more or less rectangular in cross-sectional form, the rod being bent at corner portions 1 I and i2, note Fig. 1, to form depending sides 53 and I 4, terminating at their lower ends in rearwardly offset leg members I5 and [5, to the lower ends of which are welded or otherwise secured disc-like feet H. The leg members l5 and it join the sides [3 and M in curved portions l 8, to which are secured upwardly and forwardly extending brackets l9 forming supports for a seat frame 2!}. The brackets 59 have apertures 2| therein for the reception of bolts or other fastenings, as indicated at 22 in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Secured to the sides I 3 and Id of the back rest In, above the curved portions it, is a cross-strap 23, note Fig. 1, and extending between the strap 23 and the top cross-bar 24 of the back rest frame are vertical bands 25 spaced apart to form a spring-like support on the back rest. The bands 25, including the straps 2'3, are welded or otherwise secured in position. The two center bands 25 are apertured, as seen at 26, adjacent the upper end thereof to facilitate attachment of ornamental tops to the chair as and when such tops may be desired, but as this forms no part of the present invention, the ornamental top is not shown. The side members l3 and i4 also have welded or otherwise secured thereto outwardly extending plates 21, apertured as seen at 28, note Fig. 3, for the reception of bolts 29 in securing arm rests 3!], 38' to the back rest.

The seat frame 2 is rectangular in form and of a width corresponding to the width of the back rest frame and of such depth as to form a rela tively deep seat suitable for lounging chairs of the type and kind under consideration. The frame 29 or the rails thereof are T-shaped in cross-sectional form, as clearly seen in Fig. 5 of the drawing. In other words, the frame comprises an outer vertical plate 3! and an inwardly extending central flange 32 on the inner surface thereof. Welded or otherwise secured to the flange 32 of the front and rear members of the frame are spaced slats 33, also preferably of springy material to form a yieldable seat port-ion. Five of slats 33 are employed in the structure shown, whereas four vertical bands 25 are employed. However, the bands 25 are preferably wider than the slats 33. In the use of the chair. cushion facings may be provided for the seat and back rest frames, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in which 34 represents a seat cushion, 35 a back rest cushion, the cushions being joined by a strap 3'6. At this point, it is well to point out that the cushions are preferably packaged in a separate wrapper or container by reason of the lightness thereof and, in order to avoid complicating the packaging of the metallic frame. This is, furthermore, desirable from the standpoint that, while the chair frame will be constructed of a few colors suitable for different uses, an independent selection of cushions of varying colors, designs or patterns can behad and, by separate packaging, no difliculty is experienced in sending the required assemblage to the purchaser.

The flanges 32 of the side parts of the seat frame 26 near the rear end thereof are provided with rectangular apertures Bl, through which the bolts 22 pass,

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, I have shown at 33 the type of bolt which is used in making all assemblages. These are conventional stove bolts having the square shanks 39 adjacent the heads 49 and the square shanks 39 fit the rectangular apertures, as for example, the apertures 31. In Fig. 4, oth r rectangular apertures d! are provided on the flange 32 near the front corners of the seat frame and on front and side parts thereof to receive the fastening bolt which also pass through circular apertures $2 in the end portions of an L-shaped bracket portion '35 secured to or constituting part of upper end portions of front legs 44, 45'.

As the legs 44, 44 are generally of the same structure, as is also true of the arm rests 3t, 30', only one of each of these parts is specifically described.

The legs M, M are preferably curved outwardly and downwardly in the manner most clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing and terminating at their lower ends in feet t5, similar to feet ll. The feet H and 45 prevent the legs from digging into a lawn or other soft surface on which the chair may be placed.

The arm rests 30, 36' are of the curved construction generally seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. At one end of the arm rest are secured inwardly extending plates 4'6 having rectangular apertures H; at the other end of the arm rest are similar inwardly extending plates 48 having a pair of rectangular apertures 59,

Welded or otherwise secured to the front end portion of the seat frame 29 are outwardly extending brackets 50 having a pair of apertures therein adapted to aline with the apertures 39 and to receive bolts 33 similar to the bolts 33. This mounting of the arm rest portions extends the arm rest to a point beyond the overall width of the seat and back rest portion, producing a wide entrance for the seat, as will clearly appear from a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawing.

"When the various parts of the chair are in detached or knockdown condition, they may be assembled and packed in a carton or other container such as 5!, illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawing, in which a diagrammatic arrangement of the back rest frame Iii, seat frame 25, arm rests 35 se' and leg members 4 3, M" are indicated in dotted lines.

In assembling the chair, the front leg members id, 44' are first coupled with the front corners of the seat frame by placing the angular or L-shaped brackets 4.3 snugly in the corners of the frame 20 below the flange 32 and,'then,

securing the parts together by the bolts 38. After this assemblage, the rear portions of the seat frame are then placed upon the brackets IS, with said brackets seating on the lower surfaces of the flanges t2 and with the rear portion of the seat frame abutting the front face of the back rest frame, as seen in Fig. 2. The bolts 22 which are similar to the bolts 38 are then secured in position. The arm rests are then mounted in position by simply placing the plates db and d8 upon the plates or bracket portions 2?, 5t and securing the bolts in position. The arm rests aid in bracing the back rest on the seat frame, as well as providing comfortable arm rest portions for supporting the arms of the occupant of the chair. The resulting assembled chair will be relatively light in weight, depending upon the type and kind of material employed in the various parts of the chair. Thus, a chair of this kind can be easily moved about and will have the desired strength and rigidity.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the bands 25 are bowed rearwardly to a slight extent in order to provide a curved back for the chair which will give greater comfort thereto. This bowing will not interfere with other resiliency of the bands. It is preferred, however, that the cleats 33 be normally straight and will yield to the weight of the occupant of the chair.

In addition to materially simplifying storage and handling of the wrapped or packaged chairs, it will also be apparent that the carton 5! may be kept by the purchaser and, in off seasons and, when it is desired to store summer outdoor furniture of this kind, the various chair parts may be disassembled for restoring in the carton, thus occupying a minimum amount of storage space in the home.

For sake of description, iii can be considered as a back part or section; iii a seat part or section, 3i], 3t arm parts or members; M, 4 front leg parts or members.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An article of furniture comprising a back part, a seat part, arm and front leg members, all detachably coupled with each other in forming a seat-like structure, the back part comprising a U-shaped frame defined by side rods joined by an upper cross-head, lower ends of the rods forming leg members for said back part, a strap joining and spacing the side rods above the lower ends thereof, bands joining and spacing the strap with the cross-head of said frame, the side rods of the frame having forwardly extending brackets, said seat part comprising a rectangular frame of T- shaped cross-sectional form, means detachably coupling the frame of the seat part with the brackets of the back part in coupling said parts together, a plurality of slats joining opposed rails of the seat frame, said leg members having L- shaped bracket portions at the upper ends thereof adapted to fit snugly in corner portions of the seat frame, means detachably coupling the leg brackets with the seat frame, said arm rest members being substantially L-shaped in form, and means at the ends thereof and on the back rest and seat parts for detachably coupling the arm rest members therewith.

2. An article of furniture comprising a back part, a seat part, arm and front leg members, all detachably coupled with each other in forming a seat-like structure, the back part comprising a U-shaped frame defined by side rods joined by an upper cross-head, lower ends of the rods forming leg members for said back part, a strap joining and spacing the side rods above the lower ends thereof, bands joining and spacing the strap with the cross-head of said frame, the side rods of the frame having forwardly extending brackets, said seat part comprising a rectangular frame of T-shaped cross-sectional form, means detachably coupling the frame of the seat part with the brackets of the back part in coupling said parts together, a plurality of joining opposed rails of the seat frame, said leg members having L-shaped bracket portions at the upper ends thereof adapted to fit snugly in corner portions of the seat frame, means detachably cou pling the leg brackets with the seat frame, said arm rest members being substantially L-shaped in form, means at the ends thereof and on the back rest and seat parts for detachably coupling the arm rest members therewith, said last named means comprising mounting plates at the ends of the arm rest members, and supporting plates extending outwardly from side portions of the back and seat parts,

3. An article of furniture of the class described comprising a back section, a seat section and front leg members, the seat section comprising a rectangular frame, means within the frame forming a resilient seat portion, means on the seat frame and upper ends of the front leg members for detachably coupling and keying said leg members against shifting movement in the seat frame, said means on the leg members comprising L-shaped bracket portions at upper ends of the leg members, a back rest section comp-rising a back rest portion and downwardly extending rear leg parts, forwardly extending brackets integral with the back section at the upper ends of the leg parts thereof for supporting the seat section thereon, and means detachably coupling the seat section with said last named bracket.

4. An article of furniture of the class described comprising a back section, a seat section and front leg members, the seat section comprising a rectangular frame, means within the frame forming a resilient seat portion, means on the seat frame and upper ends of the front leg members for de-, tachably coupling and keying said leg members against shifting movement in the seat frame, a back rest section comprising a back rest portion and downwardly extending rear leg parts, means integral with the back section at the upper ends of the leg parts thereof for supporting the seat section thereon, means detachably coupling the seat section with said last named means, the back rest section and seat section having outwardly extending side plates, and substantially L-shaped arm rest members detachably' secured to said plates and arranged above and outwardly of the sides of the seat section.

5. In knockdown metal chairs of the class described comprising detachably coupled parts, two of said parts comprising a back section and-a seat section, the back section comprising a U-shaped frame, forming top, sides and lower rear legs of the chair back, means between the top and sides forming a yieldable back rest in the back section, said seat section comprising a rectangular frame defined by side and front and back rails, means joining front and back rails forming a yieldable seat portion in the seat section, the rails of the seat section having inwardly extending flange portions, the Side members of the back section having integral forwardly extending brackets adapted to fit on the flanges of the frame of the seat section in supporting the seat section thereon, means detachably coupling the brackets with said flanges, the sides of the frame of the back section and said seat section having outwardly extending plates, and Substantially L-shaped arm rest members detachably coupled with said last named plates.

6. In knockdown metal chairs of the class described comprising detachably coupled parts, two of said parts comprising back section and a seat section, the back section comprising a U-shaped frame, forming top, sides and lower rear legs of the chair back, means between the top and sides forming a yieldable back rest in the back section, said seat section comprising a rectangular frame defined by side and front and back rails, means joining front and back rails forming a yieldable seat portion in the seat section, the rails of the seat section having inwardly extending fiange portions, the side members of the back section having integral forwardly extending brackets adapted to fit on the flanges of the frame of the seat section in supporting the seat section thereon, means detachably coupling the brackets with said flanges, other parts of said chair comprising front leg members, said front leg members havin upper L-shaped brackets adapted to fit snugly in corner portions of the seat frame and on the flanges thereof, and means detachably coupling the brackets with the flanges of the seat frame.

'1. In knockdown metal chairs of the class described comprising detachably coupled parts, two of said parts comprising a back section and a seat section, the back section comprising a U-shaped frame, forming top, sides and lower rear legs of the chair back, means between the top and sides forming a yieldable back rest in the back section, said seat section comprising a rectangular frame defined by side, front and back rails of T-shaped cross-sectional form, the T-formation of the rails of the seat section providing inwardly extending flange portions on said rails, means joining the flange portions of the front and back rails, forming a yieldable seat portion in the seat section, the side members of the back section having integral forwardly extending brackets adapted to engage the flanges of the frame of the seat section in supporting the seat section thereon, means detachably coupling the brackets with said flanges, other parts of the chair comprising front leg members, the front leg members having upper L shaped brackets adapted to fit snugly in corner portions of the seat frame and on the flanges thereof, and means detachably coupling said L- shaped brackets with the flanges of the seat frame.

CHARLES P. MOLLA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OLeary July 11, 1934 

